Foundations of American Government

I. Enlightenment Began in Europe in the 1600s Began in Europe in the 1600s “Age of Reason”- a political & philosophical movement “Age of Reason”- a political & philosophical movement Influenced by the Scientific Revolution Influenced by the Scientific Revolution Scientists began using logic through observation and experimentation to explain how the physical world works Scientists began using logic through observation and experimentation to explain how the physical world works

I. Enlightenment By the late 1600s political philosophers used the same ideas, applying them to the social and political world By the late 1600s political philosophers used the same ideas, applying them to the social and political world Used logic to find the laws of nature the control the social world Used logic to find the laws of nature the control the social world Overall impact= questioning traditional practices and thoughts, including the authority of the British Monarch in the colonies Overall impact= questioning traditional practices and thoughts, including the authority of the British Monarch in the colonies

II. Enlightenment Philosophers Many of the philosophers of this period would have a large influence on our Founding Fathers of the American Revolution and the eventual creation of the American Constitution and our new government Many of the philosophers of this period would have a large influence on our Founding Fathers of the American Revolution and the eventual creation of the American Constitution and our new government

Thomas Hobbes Famous work: Leviathan argued that if humans are left to their own devices, chaos and violence would ensue In a state of nature, life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Argued that the best way to protect life was to give total power to an absolute monarch

John Locke English philosopher, wrote Essay on Human Understanding (1690) & Two Treatises on Civil Government (1690) Believed God made natural laws to run the social world, it is up to man to enforce these laws of society

John Locke Enforcement comes from the social contract: gov’t must enforce natural laws through mutual agreement of the people Enforcement comes from the social contract: gov’t must enforce natural laws through mutual agreement of the people Man has inalienable rights/natural rights of man: which include life, liberty, and the right to property Man has inalienable rights/natural rights of man: which include life, liberty, and the right to property The purpose of gov’t is to protect these rights and in return the citizens will obey the government The purpose of gov’t is to protect these rights and in return the citizens will obey the government

John Locke If the gov’t doesn’t protect these rights/violates them, the citizens/people have the right and duty to overthrow the gov’t and create a new one --> true democracy If the gov’t doesn’t protect these rights/violates them, the citizens/people have the right and duty to overthrow the gov’t and create a new one --> true democracy Probably the most influential Enlightenment philosopher on the American colonists during the revolutionary era Probably the most influential Enlightenment philosopher on the American colonists during the revolutionary era

Baron de Montesquieu French philosopher, wrote Spirit of Laws (1748) Advocated for a separation of powers within a central government to prevent the abuse of power so that no one branch (or person) would become too powerful

Baron de Montesquieu One branch to make the laws: legislative One branch to make the laws: legislative One branch to enforce the laws: executive One branch to enforce the laws: executive One branch to interpret the laws: judicial One branch to interpret the laws: judicial

Jean Jacques Rousseau French philosopher, wrote Emile (1762) & Social Contract (1762) Idea of popular sovereignty: people decide how to live together with gov’t, decide what type of system they want--> idea of self-government, rule by the people, and consent of the governed

Jean Jacques Rousseau Also believed in the social contract: mutual agreement between citizens to obey the gov’t and the government’s duty to protect the citizens and make decisions based on the common good/ general will Also believed in the social contract: mutual agreement between citizens to obey the gov’t and the government’s duty to protect the citizens and make decisions based on the common good/ general will

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III. Colonial Influences Mayflower Compact (1620) Mayflower Compact (1620) Set up the first “social contract” for a New England colony Set up the first “social contract” for a New England colony Set up a democracy with ideas of consent of the governed and that the majority rules for the good of the colony Set up a democracy with ideas of consent of the governed and that the majority rules for the good of the colony Drafted and signed by adult males on the Mayflower Drafted and signed by adult males on the Mayflower

III. Colonial Influences Colonial Assemblies ( ) Colonial Assemblies ( ) American assemblies seized the opportunity created by the lack of strict imperial control to increase their own powers American assemblies seized the opportunity created by the lack of strict imperial control to increase their own powers Colonial legislatures started on control taxes and consult of political appointments Colonial legislatures started on control taxes and consult of political appointments gradual shift from English- appointed governors and councils to American-elected assemblies gradual shift from English- appointed governors and councils to American-elected assemblies

IV. Conclusion All of these influenced the Founding Fathers as they headed toward revolution and ultimately in creating the Constitution All of these influenced the Founding Fathers as they headed toward revolution and ultimately in creating the Constitution